Impressed Recordings are proud to announce Phoebe Rings - Aseurai in collaboration with our friends at Carpark Records.
Phoebe Rings started with front-woman Crystal Choi in 2019, eager for an outlet after finishing jazz school. “I got very sick of jazz. I just didn’t want that sound anymore,” she adds, “Dream-pop was my favourite thing to listen to. It fits the vibe and visuals of where I wanted to go.” Graham Reid (Elsewhere) praises the ethereal fantasy: “If the occasion arises for you to take a few moments to let the world go, this is the EP for you.”
Phoebe Rings’ debut album, Aseurai, marks an ethereal journey through the introspective worlds of dream-pop, experimental soundscapes, and introspective lyricism. After years of musical evolution, Aseurai brings together elements of dream-pop and the nuanced layers of Choi’s Korean heritage, drawing from both classical piano training and her diverse influences.
“아스라이 흩어지는 하늘의 별이 (May the falling light of faraway stars) / 그대의 손 끝에 닿아 숨이 돼주길 (Reach your fingertips and let you breathe),” Choi sings in the title track Aseurai, which was imagined as a breezy track inspired by a 90’s Korean pop band. “Aseurai means around you in the atmosphere, hard to reach, fading away,” she says, “it’s a poetic expression. You wouldn’t say it in normal conversation, but I like that.” Choi discovered only when fleshing out the lyrics that it was about yearning for people she couldn’t see anymore, in this case her late grandmother who she was separated from for a large period of her life. And perhaps that’s why she wrote it in her mother tongue of Korean, wishing to pull closer to the grandmother she’d hoped to have spent more time with on earth through song and shared language. Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent’s lead single ‘Drifting’ is an unrequited celestial love song framed by bouncing bass and playful synths.
The album, produced with a sense of collective artistry, showcases Phoebe Rings as an indie supergroup. The band draws on the eclectic skills of its members, with Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent (Princess Chelsea) experimenting with unconventional production techniques with rhythmic syllabic additions, Alex Freer (Tiny Ruins) adding a slick approach to the project, and Benjamin Locke (bass) providing unexpected lyricism that resonates throughout the music. And at the helm: Choi’s agile, soaring, intimate vocals and songwriting.
The album delves into hope and longing across all possibilities, and this exploration of holding on and letting go is organically threaded throughout. Across ten songs, Phoebe Ring’s storytelling ranges from tongue-in-cheek musings on gentrification to tender autobiographical memories, marking out a brilliant new constellation in their sky, bringing their individual compositions to the fore whilst seamlessly threading them into one celestial body all underpinned by their ongoing inspirations: Studio Ghibli films, Zelda and Stardew soundtracks, Bossa Nova, Stereolab, and 90’s Korean ballads.
“Something of an indie supergroup… a style that reflects the layered, dimensional love that stitches together the cultural tapestry of Choi and her band’s instincts” - Paste Magazine
“it's time for the rest of the world to fall in love with the dream-pop songcraft of Aotearoa dazzlers Phoebe Rings” - Under the Radar
“you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled upon an undiscovered Stereolab B-side… pure, glossy dream-pop” - Rolling Stone
Choi’s creative vision is perfectly complemented by the diverse talents of the band, bringing together a perfect balance of polished and experimental. Aseurai is an invitation to lose yourself in an atmospheric, sonic journey. These tracks are an invitation to escape and reflect, making it the perfect soundtrack for moments of introspection.
Phoebe Rings’ momentum continues to grow, having played prestigious festivals like SXSW Sydney (2024) - where Impressed saw them an loved them instantly, Outsider Sounds Festival, Nestfest (2020), Festival of Lights (2024), and Future Future Festival (2024). With their infectious energy, they’ve earned spots in the Best New Zealand Music of the Week round-ups by Rolling Stone and have been featured in TVNZ+’s Kid Sister and ABC Australia's White Fever.
Now signed with acclaimed US indie label Carpark Records, Phoebe Rings is ready to release their debut album, Aseurai, on 6th June 2025.
Impressed has worked with Car Park to secure this exclusive pressing for Australia.
Pressed on heavyweight, limited edition, fire orange vinyl. Strictly limited to 50 copies, and individually numbered with our signature obi strip.
Available now for pre-order. We'll ship for release on 6th June 2025.
Free shipping Australia wide.